Within 4 miles is 30 min or less commute by car.

Generally, western Montgomery County is going to be expensive. The detached single family homes in that area are over $1 million. Silver Spring can be more affordable. It has the walkability of an urban area and some ok breweries and restaurants as well as a movie theater and music venue. Takoma and Takoma Park have great apartments. That area has a small town vibe with a lot of local eateries, a farm market, a couple of cute shops. You might also consider Walter Reed off of Georgia Avenue. It’s in the process of being developed and there are some apartments already leasing.

If you’re looking for more affordable, you might try renting an English basement in Brightwood or looking further out on the red line (Wheaton, White Flint). Fort Totten and Petworth on green aren’t far either. They’ll both get you closer to the heart of the city. Each spot has its own distinct vibe and trade-offs. If you can, come ride the Metro and get off in areas you’d be interested in during different parts of the day. You’ll see how much life there is and whether you feel comfortable walking around.

For 92k you could live in Bethesda. Or at least north Bethesda

I think Silver Spring's nightlife is a little overrated, but I would put it above Bethesda's, and obviously it's closer to Takoma Park. It's also pretty easy to get to parts of the city with a lot of restaurants and bars from there.

In the city you could look at Columbia Heights and Park View but getting 650 square feet with parking for under $2100 is going to be tough. You'll also get varying opinions about safety there.

Overall, I'd probably go with Silver Spring.

The area near Brookland metro station around Catholic university is neat, and it’s close to Takoma. Haven’t checked, but I would assume you would be able to find an apartment that fits your criteria there.